Staff recommends the City Council award a professional engineering services contract for W.O. 26-19: Landfill Cell 6 Expansion, to Great West Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $270,000.

The current active lined waste cell at the Billings Regional Landfill is predicted to run out of capacity in about three years.  To ensure the landfill and solid waste operations continue without interruption, it is necessary to design and construct the next new lined cell (Cell 6).  Starting on the design now will allow time to construct the new cell before the existing cell reaches full capacity.  This contract is for design services and the design cost for the new Cell 6 was budgeted in FY 26 using Solid Waste Funds.  There are adequate funds for this design contract.

The landfill utilizes lined cells to dispose of municipal waste.  The landfill process generally includes opening a new cell, filling the cell, and closing the cell over a period of time in accordance with current regulations.  A recent landfill survey indicates that the currently active cell (Cell 5) is nearing capacity in about three years.  The Landfill Master Plan completed in 2020 notes the next cell will be developed as Cell 6 comprised of Cells 6A and 6B.  To ensure that landfill operations are not interrupted and regulations continue to be met, it is necessary to start the process of developing Cell 6A now.

This contract involves the design of Cell 6A, a new leachate pond to accommodate the new cell, and associated stormwater infrastructure and access roads.  The project also includes evaluating the available life of future cells, recommending options for the best sequence to follow for future cell expansion, and integration of future expansion with the Landfill's existing landfill gas collection operations.  These design elements and recommendations are included in a cell expansion master plan that will be used by City landfill operations staff.  Bidding services are also included in this professional services contract.  Construction contract administration may be added by a contract amendment prior to the start of construction when the scope of work and duration of construction of Cell 6A can be better defined.

The City requested proposals for professional engineering services from nine pre-qualified firms that were taken from the established Statement of Qualifications.  Proposals were received from Burns & McDonnell, Great West Engineering, HDR Engineering, Terracon, and TetraTech.  City staff used the proposal process (RFP) to select Great West Engineering due to their experience with landfill cell design and experience with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.  The consultant selection was based on Project Team and Availability, Project Approach, and Firm Qualifications and Experience related to the project needs, per State law.

The project was budgeted in FY26 in the amount of $2,388,000 using Solid Waste Funds.  There are adequate funds to award the contract.  Remaining funds will be used for construction contract administration, materials testing, project inspection, and construction.

City Council may:

• Approve awarding the Professional Engineering Services contract to Great West Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $270,000; or
• Not approve awarding the Professional Engineering Services contract to Great West Engineering, Inc.  If the contract is not awarded, the expansion and development of a new lined cell at the Landfill will be delayed, potentially resulting in the existing Landfill cell reaching its capacity prior to a new cell being completed.